Jones Fire burning near Wickenburg shuts down U.S. 60; evacuation ordered

WICKENBURG, Ariz. - The Jones Fire, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, has burnt 100+ acres of land, and remains active near the Hassayampa River bottom.

What we know:

At 7:46 p.m., officials said firefighters stopped forward progress at 89.5 acres, but interior pockets are still expected to burn. Between eight and 10 RVs were destroyed. 

"The fire is burning on both sides of the river bottom and both sides of US 60," read a portion of the statement. "Across the fire, engines and a dozen are working in coordination with two Large Air Tankers and four Single Engine Air Tankers."

The highway was closed at milepost 111 due to the fire, the Arizona Department of Transportation said. It has mostly reopened, as of Monday evening. 

No injuries have been reported, but several RVs were destroyed by the blaze. 

What they're saying:

Some evacuees said it is frightening with the hottest days of the year still ahead of us. Erykah Santana, her husband, and their two dogs, are some of the Wickenburg residents who may not be able to return home due to evacuation orders from the brush fire.

"We’re gonna have to wait and see. We may be going up and staying with family in town," Santana said. 

Santana, who is wheelchair bound, described leaving her home Monday afternoon. 

"The police ended up coming and picking me up and bringing me to the community center and, unfortunately, that was also evacuated, so now we’re here," she said.

Local perspective:

The Jones Ford Dealership along U.S. 60, is a main road between Phoenix and Las Vegas. It is where both lanes were closed to traffic for several hours. That traffic was diverted to alternate routes, with some semis choosing instead to wait out the road closure.

"Pretty nasty. You can see the fire department. They’re starting to quickly move people and resources," Brian Jones with the dealership said. 

Santana said the chaos put her on edge for the summer ahead.

"I am a bit nervous," she said. "We’re in an area that’s very dry and people aren’t always as careful as they can be with what they’re doing, and it is a concern for me because it is just so easy to start a fire."

Evacuations

A GO alert has been issued. Residents from the U.S. 93 to Zabel Mine Road, from the railroad tracks west of U.S. 60 to the area east of U.S. 60, are being told to evacuate.

In a separate statement, officials with the American Red Cross said a shelter has been set up at Wickenburg High School.

Dig deeper:

According to the Arizona Emergency Information network, the "Ready, Set, Go!" program is a nationwide program that is adopted by Arizona's 15 county sheriffs.

"The three steps encourage Arizonans to get READY by preparing now for what threatens their community, be SET by maintaining awareness of significant danger and to GO, evacuate immediately when the danger is current and life-threatening," read a portion of the website.

READY – Prepare Now

Be aware of the hazards that can threaten your community.

• Take steps now to prepare for seasonal threats.
• Register with your county/tribal emergency notification system.
• Connect with your local emergency management office, sheriff's office and public health department  on social media.
• Make a family evacuation and communication plan that includes family phone numbers, out-of-town contacts and family meeting locations.
• Build an emergency go kit with enough food, water and necessary supplies for at least 72 hours. Include supplies to help keep you and your family healthy, such as face coverings, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Start with the five P’s; people and pet supplies, prescriptions, papers, personal needs and priceless items.
• Check with your neighbors, family, friends and elders through video chats or phone calls to ensure they are READY.
• Keep up to date on local news, weather watches, weather warnings and public health recommendations

SET – Be Alert

Know there is significant danger in your area.

• Residents should consider voluntarily relocating to a shelter or with family/friends outside the affected area. Residents should avoid close contact with those who are sick and should practice public health recommendations when relocating.
• Grab your emergency go kit.
• Keep in mind unique needs for your family or special equipment for pets and livestock.
• Stay aware of the latest news and information from public safety and public health officials.

This might be the only notice you receive. Emergency services cannot guarantee they will be able to notify everyone if conditions rapidly deteriorate. Be SET to GO.

GO! –  Evacuate

Danger in your area is imminent and life threatening.

• Residents should evacuate immediately to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area. Residents should avoid close contact with those who are sick and should practice public health recommendations when relocating.
• If you choose to ignore this advisement, you must understand emergency services may not be able to assist you further.
• Follow instructions from emergency personnel, stay on designated evacuation routes and avoid closed areas.

What we don't know:

The cause of the brush fire is unknown.

Map of area where the highway is closed:

This is a developing story. Stay with us for updates.

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